hamilton



Dec. 27, 1955 a. F. HAMILTON 2,728,378

HIGH CHAIR Filed Sept. 8, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. flzensEHRMILTON,

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Dec. 27, 1955 B. F. HAMILTON 2,728,378

HIGH CHAIR Filed Sept. 8, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I "'"III llll %%Jm INVEN TOR. 5mm fiHnmL'row,

United States Patent HIGH CHAIR Bertis F. Hamilton, Columbus, Ind.Application September 8, 1952, Serial No. 308,368 7 Claims. (Cl.155-127) It is an object of my invention to produce a childs chairhaving a tray which can readily be applied to or removed from the armsof the chair. A further object of the invention is to produce a traywhich can be located on the arms in any of a plurality of positions ofadjustment forwardly and rearwardly of the chair. A further object ofthe invention is to produce a tray mounting which will provide a strongand rigid support for the tray in difierent positions oftray-adjustment. Still another object of the invention is to produce atray mounting which lends itself to manufacture from sheet-metal partsand which will be particularly suitable for use in supporting a trayfrom chair-arms formed of metal tubing.

In carrying out the invention in its preferred form, I employ a chairprovided with horizontally extending armportions conveniently formed ofmetal tubing. The tray for application to the chair-arms is preferablyformed as a sheet-metal stamping, and is provided at its ends withbrackets adapted to rest A keeper is pivotally connected to each bracketon a vertical axis, each keeper having an arm-engaging portion remotefrom its axis of connection to the bracket. The arm-engaging portions ofeach bracket and its associated keeper complement each other when thekeeper is inoperative position to form a generally semicircular channelwhich opens inwardly to lie against the outer face of the adjacentchair-arm, the arm-engaging portion of the keeper extending downwardlyand inwardly beneath the arm and the arm-engaging portion of the bracketextending upwardly and inwardly over the arm. Suitable spring meansacting between each bracketand its associated keeper urges the keeperinwardly of the chair to bring the arm-engaging portion of the keeperinto operative position. The chair and arm-engaging portions of thekeeper have co-operating provisions interengageable to hold the tray inany of a plurality of fixed positions of fore-and-aft adjustment, thearrangement being such that those provisions can be disconnected byswinging the keepers outwardly of the chair in opposition to theaforesaid spring means.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental side elevation of a chair with the tray mountedthereon;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental tray;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental underneath plan view on an enlarged scale showingthe keeper in operative position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the keeper in releasedposition;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental view illustrating an intermediate position offore-and-aft adjustment;

Fig. 6 is a fragmental vertical section; and

Fig. 7 is an exploded view showing a bracket and keeper in separatedcondition.

In the chair shown in the drawings, a seat 10 and back 11 are attachedto and supported by two side members each comprising a length of metaltubing bent into a genplan view showing the chair and on the horizontalarm-portions.

2. eral U-shape to provide an intermediate, horizontally extending armportion-12 and downwardly extending legs 13. The tray 15 shown isconveniently a sheet-metal stamping formed to provide an upwardlyextending marginal bead 16 terminating in a downwardly projectingperipheral flange 17.

To support the tray from the arms 12, I secure to the tray a pair ofsimilar brackets 20. Each of these brackets is conveniently formed'ofsheet metal and provided along one edge with a transversely-curvedflange 21 adapted to extend over and fit against the outer upperquadrant of the cross-sectional shape of the tube 12. Fora portion ofits lengh, the flange 21 has an upwardly extending continuation 22terminating at one end in an outbent ear 23 adapted to be secured to thetray-flange 17 at the rear of the tray, as by means of a rivet 24. Thebody of the bracket 20 and its associated flange .2 1 de-, sirablyextend rearwardly well past the ear 23.

Opposite the flange 21, the bracket 20 is provided with an extension 25terminating in an up-bent ear 26 adapted to lie.against and to besecuredto the inner faceof the flange 17 at the end of the tray. Asshown, attachment of the ear 26 to the tray flangeis effected by meansof a rivet 27.

Associated with each bracket 20 is a keeper 30 conveniently formed ofsheet metal and provided along its side edges with spaced flanges 31 and32. The front end of the keeper is pivotally secured to the bracket, asby a rivet 34. Near its rear end, the keeper-flange 32 isprovided withan extension 35 curved to conform to and fit against the outer lowerquadrant of the chair-arm. The flange 21 of the bracket and the flangeportion 35 of the keepervcomplement each other, when I operativeposition, to define a generally semi-circular seat extending forapproximately of the circumference of the arm 12.

Rearwardly from the extension 25, each bracket 20 is provided withopposed, downwardly bent ears 38-and 39 between which the keeper 3!) isloosely received. The ear 38 has an opening 40 therein, and ingeneralalignment with such opening 40, the remote flange 32 of thekeeper is provided with an opening 41 of similar size. Opposite'theopening 41 in the flange 32, the keeperflange 31 is provided with anelongated 'slot 42 having a width greater than the diameter ofthe-openings 40 and pin 43 extending through the openings 40 and 41 andthe slot 42 serves as a support for a compression spring 44 acting armengaging flange 32 of the keeper to oppose outward swinging movement ofthe rear end of the keeper. The slot, 42in the keeper-flange enoug'h'toavoid interference with the spring 44.

If desired, the ears 38 and 39 may be provided with aligned openings forreceipt of a headed guide pin 46 serving to restrict downward of thekeeper and relieve the rivet 34 of bending strains and stresses.

ment of the keeper into and lip.

As noted above, the keeper and the chair-arm are provided withinterengaging provisions for retaining the tray in a fixed positionfore-and-aft of the chair. The provisions shown provide three positionsof adjustment of the tray. They comprise a pair of abutment rods 50extending generally vertically between the arm 12 and seat 10 and spacedapart a distance sufiicient to receive between them the flange-extension35 of the keeper. Intermediate its length, such flange-extension 35 isprovided the keeper-is inbetween the ear 38 and the -'31- is wide enoughand long with a notch 51 in which either of the rods 50 may be received.

To apply the tray to the chair, the hands are applied to the rear edgeof the tray 20 with the fingers bent to engage the outer keeper-flange31. With the aid of the fingers, the keepers are swung outwardly to thepositions indicated in Fig. 4, whereupon the tray is applied to thechair with the curved flanges 21 of the brackets resting on thechair-arms. By moving the tray inwardly or outwardly on the arms 12, thenotches 51 in the keepers can be brought into alignment with either thefront or the rear rods 50, or the curved extension 35 of the keeperflange may be positioned in line with the space between the two rods 50;as indicated in Fig. 5. Upon releasing the pressure exerted by thefingers, the springs 44 urge the keepers inwardly, or to the positionsindicated in Figs. 3 and 6, where the flange extensions 35 engage thearms. With release of the keepers, the tray will be firmly secured tothe chair-arms. To remove the tray, it is necessary only to retract thekeepers to a position shown in Fig. 4,

whereupon the tray may be lifted upwardly or slid forwardly to clear thearms. 0

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a chair having parallel arms of circularcross-section, a tray, brackets secured to said tray and extendingrearwardly therefrom, said brackets being spaced and shaped to fitsimultaneously against the outer, upper quadrants of the cross-sectionalshape of the arms to provide support for the tray and to locate ittransversely of said arms, a keeper pivoted to each bracket on avertical axis, each keeper having rearwardly of its axis an arm-engagingflange shaped to fit against the lower, outer quadrant of thecross-sectional shape of the arm, and spring means acting between eachbracket and keeper and urging the said flange toward engagement with theadjacent arm.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 with the addition of two abutmentsextending laterally of each arm in spaced relation therealong, saidflange having a length permitting it to be received between saidabutments to position said tray in an intermediate position along saidarms, said flange being provided intermediate its length with a notchfor alternative reception of said abutments to position said tray in oneor the other of more extreme positions fore-and-aft adjustment.

3. In combination, a chair having arms, a tray, brackets on said tray, akeeper associated with each bracket and horizontally movable betweenoperative and retracted positions, each keeper and its associatedbracket having co-operating surfaces which when the keeper is ino'perative position complement each other to form an armreceiving seatopening inwardly of the chair and extending in engagement with and atleast partially over and partially beneath the received arm.

4. The invention of claim 3 with the addition that the 4 seat-portionextending beneath the arm is on the keeper and the seat-portionextending over the arm is on the bracket.

5. In combination, a chair having arms, a tray, brackets on said tray, akeeper associated with each bracket and horizontally movable betweenoperative and retracted positions, each keeper and its associatedbracket having co-operating surfaces which when the keeper is inoperative position form an arm-receiving seat opening inwardly of thechair and extending at least partially over and partially beneath thereceived arm, elongated abutments extending vertically from each arm inspaced relation therealong, means for securing the lower ends of suchabutments in fixed position, said keeper having an arm-engaging flangehaving provisions co-operating with said abutments and operative toselectively position said tray along said arms.

6. In combination, a chair having arms, a seat, a tray, brackets on saidtray, a keeper associated with each bracket and horizontally movablebetween operative and retracted positions, each keeper and itsassociatedbracket having co-operating surfaces which when the keeper isin operative position form an arm-receiving seat opening inwardly of thechair and extending at least partially over and partially beneath thereceived arm, rods spaced along said arms and extending between saidarms and the seat, said keeper having an arm-engaging flange havingprovisions co-operating with said rods and operative to selectivelyposition said tray along said arms.

7. In combination, a chair having arms, a tray, brackets on said tray, akeeper associated with each bracket and horizontally movable betweenoperative and retracted positions, each keeper and its associatedbracket having co-operating surfaces which when the keeper is inoperative position form an arm-receiving seat opening inwardly of thechair and extending at least partially over and partially beneath thereceived arm, abutments extending laterally of each arm in spacedrelation therealong, said keeper having an arm-engaging flange havingprovisions co-operating with said abutments and operative to selectivelyposition said tray along said arms, the movement of each of said keepersinto said operative position being in a direction generallyperpendicular to its associated chair-arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,217,950 Johnston Mar. 6, 1917 2,285,845 Stinson June 9, 1942 2,505,490Greenbaum Apr. 25, 1950 2,522,087 Boudreau Sept. 12, 1950 2,531,080Peterson et al Nov. 21, 1950 2,532,556 Keough Dec. 5, 1950

